Spied: 2011 Hyundai Accent

At five years old, the current Hyundai Accent, which is one of the least expensive new cars available, is nearing the end of its product cycle. Hyundai is readying the next generation of the compact, and our spy photographers have spotted a prototype undergoing winter testing at an undisclosed location.

Like the Azera we spied earlier this month, the Accent prototype is wearing very effective camouflage, making details not much easier to spot then when we saw the Elantra testing last month. The general shape of the roofline appears to be more sloped than the current version, especially towards the rear. We also see dual inlets over the grille, whereas the current model has one opening. Whether this is camouflage trickery or indicative of the production model, we'll have to wait and see, but we can expect Hyundai's new "Fluidic Sculpture" design language to be present.

We also expect the 2011 Sonata's 2.4-liter direct-injected four-cylinder engine to be present, while our spies reckon that the platform could come from Hyundai's i20 subcompact. Stay tuned for more details.